22 Side Characters Who Successfully Took Over Movie Franchises

Being a sidekick is a double-edged sword. Sure, you don't get the glory, but you don't have the world (or at least the franchise) on your shoulders, either. You can just sit back, do your part, and settle into a comfortable albeit sexless existence.

In fact, becoming more popular than the hero may be the last thing you want. It does happen, though, sometimes to the point of becoming the hero, period, if not always without challenge.

“I am aware the new Avengers set-up didn’t track so well with moviegoers and reportedly has been cancelled,” Redditor Liquidmurr told r/Movies, referring to Falcon being “tasked with carrying” the Captain America franchise, “and I can’t really think of a strong, even loved, sidekick that has led a franchise forward.”

They then asked, “Has a ‘sidekick’ ever successfully taken over a movie franchise?” and all of these second bananas definitely fit the bill.